Endless track construction



Aug. 14, 1934. I A, MASURY 1,970,099

ENDLES S TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQOR Q0 1 twmw is ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. MASURY ENDLESS TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1953 INVENTOR fl l Mamu' a419,, BY GEL .9.

BE ATTORNEYS ?atented Aug. 14, 1934 'ETED STATES ENDLESS TRACK CONSTRUCTION Alfred F. Masury, New International Motor York, N. Y., assignor to Company, New York,

N. Y., a eorporation of Delaware Application .lanuary 6,

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to endless track constructions and embodies, more specifically, an improved shoe for endless tracks, the shoe being so designed that a plurality of the shoes may be articulated through full yielding non-metallic connections to form an endless track which is adapted to have a definite driving engagement with wheels over which the track operates.

As an improvement over track shoes of existing form, the present invention proposes to provide a track shoe which is formed with an improved bearing pad construction adapted to engage the terrain over which the track moves, as well as a means for engaging, effectively, the driving wheel or wheels over which the track is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved track shoe construction adapted to be articulated with shoes of like construction through yielding non-metallic connections, the

- structure of the shoe being simple to manufacture and assemble with similar shoes and being of maximum strength for a given weight.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in section, taken transversely through a plurality of connected shoes in the upper stretch of an endless track constructed in accordance with the present invention and on a plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.-

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation, showing one of the shoes of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view showing the shoe of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in section, similar to Figure 1, showing a modified track construction wherein means is incorporated therein to load the links of a track with an initial tension.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a link constructed in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, the track will be seen to be formed of a plurality of shoes adapted to be connected in a manner described hereinafter.

Each shoe is formed with a bearing pad which is adapted to engage the terrain over which the track passes. As shown in Figure 3, the

bearing pad may be formed with a central aperture 11 and laterally extending portions 12. The laterally extending portions may be formed with apertures 13 which may be tapered as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 2 to facilitate scavenging thereof.

1933, Serial No. 650,440

The bearing pads 10 are formed with upwardly and inwardly projecting flanges 14 which are provided with lateral inwardly extending flanges 15 to form, in effect, a cup-shaped seat for engaging yielding non-metallic material as described hereinafter.

The sides of the central aperture 11, in addition to including the lateral flanges 15, include upwardly and inwardly extending flanges 16 which merge with the forward extremity of the bearing pad 10. This forward extremity is formed withan upwardly extending wall 1'7 into which the side flanges 16 merge, the wall 17 terminating in a top plate 18 which is generally parallel to the bearing plate 10, but onset with respect thereto longitudinally of the shoe. The top plate 18 is formed with outwardly extending flanges 19 which may curve upwardly as indicated at 20 to serve as a bearing surface for vehicle tires indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 2. Strengthening webs 21 may be formed between the flanges 19 and the side walls 22 which project downwardly from the top plate 18. Side walls 22 are formed with notches 23 and diverge downwardly from the top plate 18. Notches 23 receive the side walls which extend upwardly from the bearing pad 10 of an adjacent shoe, the flanges 15 and 16 of such shoe crossing the side walls 22 substantially in the plane of the notches 23. The flanges 15 and 16, in elfect, form notches 24 which cooperate with the notches 23 to facilitate the nesting of the cooperating seating portions of adjacent shoes.

Forwardly of the top plate 18, an end wall 25 extends downwardly to a point at which a horizontal transverse rib 26 is formed, to be spaced from the top plate 18. The end wall 25 merges with the side walls 22 and, below the horizontal rib 26, extends downwardly in the form of a flange 2'7 lying generally in the plane of the wall 25, and having sides 28 which merge with the rib 26 and form a shallow pocket or seat 29. The sides 28 of the flange 27 thus are spaced inwardly of the flanges 22 and are adapted'to receive the flanges 16 which extend upwardly from the bearing plate of an adjacent shoe.

Blocks of yielding non-metallic material are formed with recesses and projections to follow the surfaces of the seating portions of the flanges of cooperating shoes as illustrated in Figure 1, being recessed to receive the rib 26 as well as formed with a projection to be seated within the shallow recess or pocket formed .by the back plate 14 and flanges 15. The block of yielding non-metallic material is further pro- 110 vided with a portion which is adapted to extend through the central aperture 11 of the bearing pad of the shoes described herein, thus affording a yielding tread to cooperate with the bearing pads of the track shoes.

In order to facilitate the transmission of traction forces between the wheels and shoes of tracks constructed in accordance with the pres ent invention, the top plate 18 of each shoe is formed with a driving lug 31 which is substantially in the central plane of the shoe and re cesses 32 are preferably formed in the top plate 18 upon opposite sides of the driving ing to facilitate cleaning of the shoe and also to decrease the weight thereof.

In the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, each link is formed with a top plate 33 having a front wall 3% sloping downwardly and forwardly away from the bearing pad 10. The downwardly extending wall 35 of this top plate is provided with a flange 36, through which a bolt 37 is adapted to pass. The front wall 34 and downwardly extending wall 35 of an adjacent link thus cooperate to form diverging bearing surfaces between which a block of yielding nonmetallic material 38 is adapted to be received. A nut 39 is provided in bolt 37 to afford a means to place the block of yielding non-metallic material 38 under compression through a suitable Washer 40. This construction affords a means for normally urging the links apart, when assembled, thus placing an initial tension thereon.

It will thus be seen that a shoe has been provided which is of great strength and of such "form as to be readily manufactured, the shoe being provided with flanges forming seating surfaces which are adapted to cooperate to facilitate the articulation of a series of shoes through yielding non-metallic members to form an endless track, the resulting track structure including yielding non-metallic bearing surfaces in addition to the usual extended bearing pad structure and further being provided with driving lugs to facilitate the transmission of driving forces between the track and wheels over which the same is mounted.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with means to be connected to an adjacent shoe, and a top plate offset with respect to the bear- 1 ing padand'formed with surfaces thereon adaptedto be engaged by tires and means to be connected-to an adjacent shoe, said bearing pad being formed with a recess from which yielding nonmetallicmaterial is adapted to extend, and yielding non-metallic material in the recess extendingtherefromto serve as a bearing surface.

2; A- track shoe having a bearing pad formed lic material is adapted to extend, and yielding non-metallic material in the recess extending therefromtoser-veas a bearing surface.

3. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with. a. recess from thelateral sides of whichflangeszextend, the-flanges forming seats adapted to receive yielding non-metallic material, yielding non-metallic material in the seats formed by the flanges and extending from the recess to serve as a bearing surface, and a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad.

4. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and ends of which flanges extend, the flanges forming seats adapted to receive yielding non-'netallic material, yielding non-metallic material in the seats formed by the flanges and extending from the recess to serve as a bearing surface, and a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad.

5. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and ends of which flanges extend inwardly, the side flanges tapering from an intermediate notched portion, the flanges forming seats adapted to receive yielding non-metaliic material, said yielding nonmetallic material extending from the recess of the bearing pad and serving as a bearing surface, and a top plate formed on the shoe ofiset with respect to the bearing pad.

6. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and end of which flanges extend inwardly, the side flanges tapering from an intermediate notched portion, the flanges forming seats adapted to receive yiedling non-metallic material, said yielding nonmetallic material extending from the recess of the bearing pad, a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad, side flanges on the top plate diverging downwardly, an end flange on the top plate forming an angle with respect to a perpendicular thereto and providing a seating means for a connecting block of yielding non-metallic material.

7. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and end of which flanges extend inwardly, the side flanges tapering from an intermediate notched portion, the flanges forming seats'adapted to receive yielding non-metallic material, said yielding nonmetallic material extending from the recess of the bearing pad, a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad, side flanges on the top plate diverging downwardly, an end flange on the top plate forming an angle with respect to a perpendicular thereto, and providing a seating means for a connecting block of yielding non-metallic material, a rib on the end flange parallel to the topplate, and a downwardly extending portion on the end flange below the rib and of less width than the end flange.

8. A track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and end of which flanges extend inwardly, the side flanges tapering from an intermediate notched portion, the flanges forming seats adapted to receive yielding non-metallic material, said yielding nonmetallic material extending from the recess of thebearing pad, a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad, side flanges on the top plate diverging downwardly, an end'flange on the top plate forming an angle with respect to a perpendicular thereto, and providing a seating means for aconnecting block of yielding non-metallic material, a rib on the end flange parallel to the top plate, a downwardly extending portion on the end flange below the rib and of less-width than the end flange, and sides on the downwardly extending portion extending between the top thereof and the rib.

9. In an endless track comprising a plurality of articulated shoes, a track shoe having a bearing pad formed with a recess from the lateral sides and end of which flanges extend inwardly, the side flanges tapering from an intermediate notched portion, the flanges forming seats adapted to receive yielding non-metallic material, said yielding non-metallic material extending from the recess of the bearing pad, a top plate formed on the shoe offset with respect to the bearing pad, side flanges on the top plate diverging downwardly, an end flange on the top plate forming an angle with respect to a perpendicular thereto and providing a seating means for a connecting block of yielding non-metallic material, a rib on the end flange parallel to the top plate, a downwardly extending portion on the end flange below the rib and of less width than the end flange, the diverging side flanges being notched and extending downwardly toward the bearing pad and end flange adjacent the bearing pad to receive the cooperating notched portions of the side flanges extending from the bearing pad of an adjacent shoe.

10. In an endless track comprising a plurality of articulated shoes, a track shoe having a bearing pad formed with means to be connected to an adjacent shoe, a flange on the shoe, means to secure a block of yielding non-metallic material to the flange to urge an adjacent shoe in a direction corresponding to normal stresses tending to elongate a track of which the shoe is a part, and means to set up a desired initial tension in the block.

11. An endless track formed of shoes each having a bearing pad and a top plate having a front wall and a wall extending upwardly from the pad, means to connect the shoes pivotally, and means between the front wall of one shoe and upwardly extending wall of an adjacent shoe tending to elongate the track.

12. An endless track formed of shoes each having a bearing pad and a top plate having a front wall and a wall extending upwardly from the pad, means to connect the shoes pivotally, means between the front wall of one shoe and upwardly extending wall of an adjacent shoe tending to elongate the track, and means to set up a desired tension in the last named means.

13. An endless track formed of shoes each having a bearing pad and a top plate having a front wall and a wall extending upwardly from the pad, means to connect the shoes pivotally, a block of yielding non-metallic material between the front wall of one shoe and upwardly extending wall of an adjacent shoe tending to elongate the track, and means to set up a desired tension in the last named means.

14. An endless track formed of shoes each having a bearing pad and a top plate having a front wall and a wall extending upwardly from the pad, means to connect the shoes pivotally, a flange on the upwardly extending wall of each shoe, a block of yielding non-metallic material seated on each flange, and a bolt securing each block of yielding material to its respective flange under tension.

' ALFRED F. MASURY. 

